Gender Rights Critical in New Zimbabwe Constitution, Says Nyamupinga

Biata Beatrice Nyamupinga is a member of parliament in the Republic of Zimbabwe. She is a member of the Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF) and has recently spoken out on gender issues and the constitution.
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Gender rights critical in new constitution, says Nyamupinga

By Farirai Machivenyika recently in Kadoma
Courtesy of the Zimbabwe Herald

Chairperson of the Zimbabwe Women’s Parliamentary Caucus and Goromonzi West legislator Cde Biata Nyamupinga has called for the inclusion of gender rights in the new constitution, including equal representation of women in positions of authority.

Speaking at a two-day workshop for female parlia-mentarians on the constitution-making process last week, Cde Nyamupinga said it was time to address gender disparities in the Lancaster House Constitution.

"The new constitution should include all the critical gender issues that are important for the empowerment of women and achievement of 50-50 women representation.

"The task that is facing us as women representatives at the moment is whether or not we are going to live up to the occasion and ensure that main gender provisions are inculcated into the new constitution," she said.

Cde Nyamupinga urged female legislators to ensure that women fully participated in the gathering of views informing the new supreme national law.

"Our effectiveness in our participation depends largely on the strategy that we use during the process of making a new constitution. Thus the concept of sound strategic planning lies at the very core of the need to successfully participate in this event," she said.

The women parliamentarians are lobbying for the enactment of a law that guarantees equal representation of men and women in all leadership positions.

The director of the Women in Politics Support Unit, Ms Fanny Chirisa, said it was important for women to actively participate in Parliamentary debates.

"You should know why you are in that House and that you have a constituency that is watching.

"You should participate and be involved in debates," she said.

Ms Chirisa said it was important for women leaders to balance their private and public lives given the multiple roles they played.

The workshop was held by the Women’s Caucus in conjunction with WiPSU.